Unlike Colonel
Collins, who had “severe reservations” but prioritised following
orders, Lt Watada acted on his conscience, and, it has to be said,
in line with international law.

One charge, “Conduct
unbecoming an officer and a gentleman” which carries a two-year
sentence, arises from Ehren’s extraordinary speech at the Veterans
for Peace convention last August.

“This is a war not of self-defense
but for profit and imperialistic domination…”. Pointing to
soldiers’ resistance which “became
instrumental in ending the Vietnam War” he proposed that “to stop an
illegal and unjust war, the soldiers can choose to stop fighting it…If
soldiers stood up and threw their weapons down, no president could
ever initiate a war of choice again.”

But to do this “they must
have the unconditional support of the people. ...Convince them that
no matter how long they sit in prison… their families will have a
roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, opportunities and
education.”

Lt Watada’s mother,
Carolyn Ho, calling for an International Day of Action as the court
martial opens today, said “As
a mother, I have evolved from fearing for his safety and for his
future to the realization that there is a higher purpose to all that
has transpired. What Ehren is doing will galvanize the anti-war
movement.”